The Moon Is Gone

November 12, 2022

It would have looked funny to the neighbors, if they had noticed, earlier this week. At five in the morning, I don’t think anyone did. My wife and I had just pulled up two lawn chairs to the edge of our yard.

We sat quietly in the dark most of the time, and when we spoke it was in hushed tones. Every once in a while one of us would stand, point our cell phone to the sky, and take a picture. We hadn’t watched a lunar eclipse in years. We wanted to record it, to enjoy the pictures later.

We understand lunar eclipses, but our ancestors a thousand years ago would have probably been scared stiff by the phenomenon. We know that an eclipse of the moon occurs when the moon passes through the shadow of the earth, caused by the sun. The glowing round moon becomes dimmer on one side, then more and more, until the moon seems to be nothing more than a faint shadow. Shortly after, it begins to gradually reappear, as it emerges from the earth’s shadow.

What did it look like to our ancestors? Was some huge creature biting the moon? Was it being swallowed? Perhaps it was a sign from some heavenly being, that it was not pleased and demanded an offering or sacrifice.

Throughout history, events that aren’t understood are often credited to an unseen god. Hurricanes and tornadoes are “acts of God.” Famines and droughts must mean the deities are angry. Even sickness has been seen as God’s punishment.

I am so grateful for the Bible in this regard. What God wants from us is recorded in Micah 6:8: “But what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”